Working days in Kenya are finished with this incredible woman warrior,Elizabeth Nkere, who escaped female genital mutilation while being 9-years old from her Masai village. 11 years later, Elizabeth has made peace with her parents and works as a persistent and courageous fighter against FGM by visiting villages, churches and schools and educating people of the dangers of FGM. Elizabeth shows how a single person can change complete generations.
So grateful to share this journey with fearless journalist Salla Nazarenko, who is to be thanked for the picture and the interviews. And Henrica Fagerlund-Sippoin and her NGO Bezuneshin Ystävät RY - deepest thanks to you for your financial support for Elizabeth to make her work possible!

Hi dearest how are you and your family life? We are very fine within our great work in Kambata area, especially in different churches and in many Bible schools around in Damboya District town. Dear thank you for your immediate response by sending our salary on time. We received it last Monday from our Bank. But we could not to inform you because we have a shortage of internet connection here. Sorry for that matter. So dear we will send our work report next time. We are waiting one process to send report. If we will finish this what we waiting we will send it next week. Dear how is Elizabet works in Kenya? Is it going a good way? We want to hear about her work. Is she successful in that area? Dear please take our greetings to all finish people those who support us in every sides up to day. Thank you a lot.

Hi dear, how are you? We are very fine with our joyful work in
Kambata area in Bible schools. There was happening a long
communication gap because of shortage of internet connection in our
area. Also we are preparing to send our second work report from
different churches and Bible schools. We are looking for ward to
you for our salary. Please help us in suggestion for ours journey to Matu area preparation.

Hi dear how are you? Me are good doing well. The work is going on well. These pictures I send to you are from Maela village. We attended a meeting where the councellor of the area invited us. The chief of area attended the meeting and the govornor of the whole county. All the leaders who were there were very happy about our teachings. All my workers was there also. The people of the area promised us to change and stop the culture. They also invited us once more to that village. ...

Hi
dear how are you? I am good doing well. The work is going on well. These
pictures are from Sankale village where the chief of the
area made a meeting with the people. He invited us (me and my workers) to teach the
people because as you know we are heading to December when many
girls are being circumcised and forced to get married. The chief of the area was there
and some church pastors and also the councellor of the area was there. All
are happy about our teachings. We also promise them to visit them again
and they welcome us so much. They also promised us to stop the bad tradition.

We
taught them disadvantages of FGM like bleeding so much which may lead
to death. We give them example of that young girl who died at Kajiado
village. We also teach them that circumsiced girls will have problem giving birth
because expansion of the vigana will not take place because when they
are circumcised a wound will be left there. Also AIDS can be transmitted
to them when using same knife during circumcision and one of the girls
have the virus. We also teach them about problems with early marriage.

We asked average listener what they did think. They said we are doing a good work to save life of girls and they promised us to stop the bad culture. Also the fathers who decide about FGM for their children wanted to change but not all of them. That is why we usually visit those villages several times. We are running short of money nowdays so we go by legs to those villages. With the little money that we had left our grandmotherworker used them to enter into the vehicle and other workers go by feet.

During December we plan to hold a week long seminar together with some pastors in a church in Oloolorten village. December is circumsicing time becauseof school vacation. We wait girls and women but also I know some men will attend.

Elizabeth: Hi
dear how are you? I am good doing well. I have sended to you pictures of what we
have been doing. The pictures that I have send to you is from Kajiado village which is 1000 kilometres from my village. There we attended a
funeral of a girl 16years old who was circumcised and bleed alot which led
to her death. The chief of the area attend the funeral and the councellor of the
area also. I made my speech to the people and they promised me to change
and also they welcomed me to visit them soon again to teach all of the
people because not all of them were in the funeral. The woman who did the circumsicion
disappeared and so the father of the girl too but we are doing our best to have the
government to look for them so that they will be arrested.

Henrica: Thank
you for very good work! I think it was a good situation to do a speech,
because people understand very concretely what fgm really causes. I
hope they could learn from this and from your speech.

E: They have really understand the disdavantage of fgm and the government are also happy about our teachings.

H: Fantastic! What about the government?

E: The government only arrest the woman who circumsices and the
parents of the girl for some months and later they are let to go. But they like our work and the help they can give us is arrest people.

This season we taught in teo different Bible schools from September up to beginning of October in Kambata area. We gave training in both areas for 10 days continuously as a special course. The time has been a fine and joyful.

These two schools were Urulicho Amaharic Diploma level Bible school and the second one is Funto Lamacha amaharic Diploma level Bible school. This time we had the opportunity to teach a different kind of people, married and unmarried and all of them are educated and a key persons in the local churches. With our teaching we did reach more than fifty people both female and male in two schools, which mean through them we could reach to more than 30 churches! All students present from Mekane Yesus churches, Kale Hiwot and Full Gospel churches. Their interest were very good and they gave response ina positive way. They promised to teach their people in the church and out of the church everywhere. Also we taught strongly about biblical truth concerning FGM. The following picture shows one of learners groups discussions.

Again we will have a good opportunity to teach in other bible schools too because the one bible school leader invited us to give training for his students about FGM as a special course. So that, just we started our preparation in educated method. That time means from October 22 to Nevember 5 according to Ethiopian calendar.

Dear, our teaching was as following with deeply explanation:

What the Bible says for some specific reasons of FGM

The common reason given for FGM is that it insures the wifes faithfulness to her husband and to preserve girls virginity. According to this view circumcision is a tool to control women’s sexual desire. O’Donovan criticized this view by saying female virginity and faithfulness are considered to be important standard to maintain while it is silently accepted that men will be free to seek additional sexual partners when they desire. But the Bible does not make distinction between adultery and fornication (Ex.20:14; Heb.13:14). This understanding makes wife as a tool of her husband. In the Bible both of woman and man are created for the purpose of faithfulness to rule and subdue creatures (Gen.2:26-28). Also God pays an attention to the entire parts of the human body but not only to some part of our body. We are stewards of God’s creation including our body.

FGM is considered as an issue of acceptance by the adults of a clan. This view is centered on the cultural understanding of marriage. Cultural acceptance by itself is considered as very important. But the Bible teaches about marriage as different from social belief. Marriage is an institution created by God from the very beginning (Gen.2:21-25). Physical harm and abuse may affect the marriage between husband and the wife. Therefore, FGM have to be stopped. Wenham proposed a strategy to abolish FGM. He said that restricting circumcision to men is of a peace with this attitude. We also support his view since FGM isn’t an issue only about women. It is also the issue of the whole community. Therefore, it is impossible to abolish it without the support of men.

The two arguments to abolish FGM are the argument from the silent and the argument from the creation. Argument from the silence is a strong argument which shows that the Bible is silent about the practice of FGM. But the second argument is that God made everything good including those parts of women that are important for child bearing and a healthy relationship within marriage. This argument is weak, because male circumcision is not instituted on the spot of creation. And God didn’t institute male circumcision to modify what is not good but for to make covenant relationship with human being.

The Bible is silent about FGM. In OT we have a brief explanation about male circumcision. The NT shows that we are free from the bondage of the law of circumcision. Circumcision is unnecessary even for male for his salvation and sanctification. We can’t afford spiritual quality by being circumcised. FGM is something which is developed within the human history but not on biblical and theological bases. In Ethiopia the Christian community has been practicing FGM for many years as biblical based practice, but it is not biblical.

The response of our learners was very positive. They want to teach about it in different church and everywhere to save the women lives from the bad practice of FGM. This new year we will continue with this two bible school students. Dear we wait your commit and suggestions.

We wish all the best for those who read this work report in Finland!

This writing work report is from Ethiopia, Bezunesh Lombebo and Tesfaye Alemu.

Elizabeth: These pictures are from Olesito village. These are school girls and some of them already are circumsed while others are not. Some teachers attended our teaching too. They also promised us to continue our teaching. They also asked us to visit the village once more.

Henrica: Thank you for pictures! I hope you can visit them more. Do you have opportunity to teach girls parents too? What kind of help can you give to uncircumcised girls whose parents wants to circumcise them?

Elizabeth: Yes we have opportunity to teach also the parents but problem is that husbands will not allowed them to attend. And about those girls who are not circumsiced and their parents are planning to circumsice them for giving them to marry. I have gived them my phone number so they can call me when the act is near. Then I plan for them how to run away to the rescue centre where I have lived. So far I have ten girls who have promise me that they will not undergo the act and I will take them to that rescue centre. But we have to pay their school fees because that rescue center woman will not pay their school fees. Also can you please give advise about what we can do for them?

Henrica: I think it is very good to tell those girls about the opportunity to runaway and that there is a rescue house where to go. And it is very good that they can call you for help. In long run it also needs that husbands gets educated in this. Maybe it is good to reach them trough the church? Is it more fathers or mothers who decide about circumcision and early marriage? I think this is where change must happen. Also I will try to help with the school fees. How much is that?

Elizabeth: For now the schools are open and most of those girls who are in day school they go to school and then back to their homes. In january next year I will take the girls to boarding schools where they can live and when they have few days off they will come to the rescue centre. But then we are heading to a long holiday when the Maasai circumsices their girls in large number and give them to be married off. So this time we will have a lot of work. School fee is 5,000 kenya shillings for one girl three months. (Noin 45 euroa/3kk/oppilas)

Henrica: Your plan sounds very good! Do maasai men go to church? I hope your teaching could reach at least some of them before circumcision season.

Elizabeth: It is fathers who decides about girls circumcision and marriage. Most of the men do not go to church but some does. We are planning to hold a seminar in one church when the schools are on holiday and our teachings will take one week, is that good? Also send us money because we are running short of money because we are using alot of money by hiring a vehicle.

Henrica: A seminar one week is very good thing! I will try to get money, for now im out of it but I'll do my best. Also I have a computer for you and now I try to find a way to get it there.

Elizabeth: Hi dear how are you? We are good and the work is going on well. Soon i will send to you what we have been doing. Can you communicate to Meeri Koutaniemi because she said to me she is coming soon to Kenya so she could bring the computer?

Here is pictures fom three different villages, Sakutiek, Entingi and Nesambulai. You can see some of my workers in those pictures too. We decided to teach even men about this issue beacause most of them are the ones who are giving out their children to get married. Those women with blue scafs are singing traditional songs related to our teachings. People were very happy about our teaching and they asked us to visit them again for more teachings.

Hi Dear. How are you, your family and our partners in Finland? We are very fine. Yesterday we got our salary. We thank you! Our project is working very well. But we are struggling how to change the minds of women about the harmful of FGM. We will try to send our work report at the end of September. The other new thing is that I have planned together with Sari Lehtelä to give training in Mttu area after five month or in February. That area is new to this training and a the place is very far. So please pray for all. God bless you and our partners!

perjantai 15. elokuuta 2014

Dear, last June 28 we celebrated Amen Tesfaye 1st year birth day, Abenezer Tesfaye 3 years and our marriage 4th year. We send that picture now, because now we are in Shashemane town, that makes a good opportunity to communicate with you without any connection error.

These are school girls from Olokurono. We made an arrange with teachers of Olokurnono primary school and we stayed in that school for one week teachings girls and their parents because in that village people are still following their cultures and many girls are dropping out of school to get married. Also the chief of the area was listening and even church leaders were there. We went with a vehicle with the money that was left. My friends from that area also attended to help us. The listeners were very happy and people promise us to change from that bad cultures but we will visit the area again to see if they have changed.

Now the schools of Kenya are closed and children have gone for their holiday so we will visit churches and villages home to home. -Elizabeth

The sixth work report to ours Partners in FinlandTopic: Theological Reasons against FGM

Dear lovely sister Henrica how are you? We are very fine with our joyful work in Kambata area in Damboya. As we told to you last time this time teaching is about the theological reasons against FGM . So, we taught more than 60 people both male and female also among them were both educated and uneducated. We gave speech in Damboya city in Kale Hiywot Church for 4 days last month. In Kambata area this season is a circumcision season for both male and female because the school isclosed. So we take care for girls life by teaching key persons in the church, like church leaders, women coordinators, youth leaders, prayer groups, deacons, and choir leaders.

The response of our learners was very positive as we understood from their feedback. They said that people die for a long time without any understanding about this harmful practice of FGM. And they lost many children and mothers through this practice. So that, after this understanding they said they will try to teach the congregants in the church and everywhere to save girls from this dangerous practice. They asked us to continue our teaching among people. Also we make the agreement with them to continue our teaching with them.

Also we reach somebody through our teaching in Damboy who was a cutter man. He is educated but he is doing this practice on women. In Kambata area it is traditional way male doing the process of FGM. And the physicians are doing this practice in illegal way. So, this person says that he is doing this work for reason of money. He can get from one girl more than 50 birr and in summer season he could cut more than 20 girls. But now he is afraid for the law and the teaching of the church. There for after our teaching he decided to stop this work.

Dear if you want to know what we teach this time about theological reason against FGM here is our teaching. Please don’t be tired to read this long work report.

Theological Reasons Against FGM

In Old Testament (OT) circumcision was a physical expression of faith which distinguished those who belonged to the Lord from those who did not. God instructed Abraham to circumcise every male connected with him including slave born in his house who was not the offspring of him. This suggests that circumcision was not meant to be understood a sign of racial purity. It was a necessary mark a physical indicator of God’s people. It involved both the confirmation and taking possession of the covenant. It also functioned as God’s indispensable branding of his people without which a male would be cut off from the people of God. But in the Nwe Tesament (NT) it has no function for the physical expression of faith which distinguished believers and nonbelievers.

In OT circumcision has a significance (Jer.9:25 and Deut.30:6). Jeremiah saw physical circumcision as the external act which has no spiritual significance if there is not accompanied by obedience to Lord. He didn’t give much credit for its importance on spiritual life of the person whether he is physically circumcised or not. According to the theology of Jeremiah, practicing physical circumcision cannot make Israelites better than Egyptians, Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites unless they are uncircumcised in heart. In OT physical circumcision was a putting off of a part of the flesh as a symbol of covenant relationship of God’s people with a holy God.

In the time of NT Jesus was circumcised a physical circumcision (Luke 2:21) as a reference to his atoning death in which he condemned sin in the flesh (Rom.8:3) and nailed legalism to the cross (Col.2:14). Christians are circumcised only symbolically in Christ (Col.2:11) and also Paul warned the Christians who regarded circumcision within the value of spiritual virtue, that thereby they made themselves debtors to do the whole and Christ should profit them nothing (Gal. 5:2-3, 12). For this outward circumcision, which is unaccompanied by any spiritual change, Paul uses the term concision in (Phi.3:2) or mutilation to denote the zealous advocated of circumcision. Generally in NT circumcision has no spiritual value.

The Significance of Circumcision in Judaism

Circumcision has ritual, metaphorical and ethical significances in the Pentateuch. Ritual significance was the sign for the particular covenant between God the family of Abraham (Gen. 17:11) and serves as an instrument through which the covenant maintained from generation to generation (VV.10-12). On the other hand it was the means of assimilating within the covenant those who were not related to Abraham biologically (vv.12-13). As the sign of covenant, circumcision served to remained Abraham and his descendants of the covenant promise of seed. The covenant is not just with Abraham but with his whole group and his descendant’s male. The divine promise and human obligation were transferred to the future generation by means of circumcision.

Though female circumcision is practiced among some people, the OT specially emphasizes the necessity for man to participate in religion (Ex.23:17, 34:23, Deut. 16:16). It is impossible to suggest the females are outside the covenant that was given to Abraham but they are part of the covenant. To take part in this covenant, circumcision is not needed for female. But circumcision is needed in the OT only for males. Additionally God didn’t say that my covenant will continue only with the circumcised generation. What can exclude females from God’s covenant Abraham’s generation since they are part of Abraham’s generation and they are the seed of circumcised males (Gen.17:10). The instruction about male circumcision in the old legal code is on the eight day the boy is to be circumcised (Lev.12:3) but the females are not included in this legal code of circumcision.

Metaphorical significance is applied to other parts of the human anatomy, such as heart (Lev.26:41, Deut.10:16, 30:6, Jer.4:4, 9:25-26), the lips (Ex.6:12,30) the ear (Jer. 6:10), and to the initial harvests from fruit trees (Lev. 19:23). It refers to the state of circumcision in Rom. 2:25-28, 3:1,4:10, 1Cor. 7:19,Gal. 5:6and Col. 3:11. Uncircumcised heart is one that is incapable of understanding of fulfilling God’s requirements. Likewise, uncircumcised lips are unsuitable channels for divine communication. Similarly, uncircumcised fruit unsuitable for use. Circumcision was a necessity metaphor in order to in experience Yahweh’s blessing. To illustrate the heart attitude Scriptures writers use the verb to circumcise. The circumcision of the flesh is a physical sign of commitment to God. Deuteronomy particularly is fond of the spiritual usage of the verb to circumcise. Circumcise your hearts, therefore and do not be stiff-necked any longer (Deut.10:16, 30:6). Jeremiah took over this usage: "circumcise yourselves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your heart..." (Jer.4:4). All the metaphorical significance doesn’t symbolize FGM.

The ethical usage of circumcision was in some measure an extension of the metaphorical usage eg. Israelites in order to be uncircumcised is unwillingness to love God and to obey His commandment of Circumcision (Deut.10:16-17 and 30:6-7) and to submit to His ethical requirement (Lev.26:40-41). Jeremiah underlined that uncircumcised heart was in reality to be no different from surrounding peoples who merely practiced physical circumcision (Je.9:24-26). Within the Pentateuch there may have been a more direct connection between ritual and ethical connotations.

Theologically man is God’s steward on the overall creation of the earth. This idea in his relation to the world and his own life is inherent in the creation history. Stewardship may refer to God’s provision for Christian’s age (Eph.3:9). According to the explanation of Luther, the confession of God as creator implies that the same God created me, my body and my soul, upholds me with his Power. The first article of Apostolic Creed implies that the man is created to be steward of all creation without any exempted part of creation. Everything that man’s possesses, body and soul, all with which he has been provided, it is a gift from the hands of the creators. Whatever he does is, but an answer to God’s dealing with him. Therefore we are living life accountability. As a Christian we should have to respect the gift of God’s dealing with him. FGM is hurting the body of human being. Christians should stand against this harmful practice as God’s stewards for their body and all creation.

Being uncircumcised for woman is not unwillingness to love and to obey His covenant. But it is obeying God in order to do not, what God didn’t command in his word. FGM is not Gods commandment like circumcision of males was God’s commandment in OT. We can develop theology from the textual stand point, but we cannot from inexistence. What the Bible Says for Some Specific Reasons of FGMThe common reason given for FGM is that it insures the wifes faithfulness to her husband and to preserve girls virginity. According to this view circumcision is a tool to control women’s sexual desire. O’Donovan criticized this view by saying female virginity and faithfulness are considered to be important standard to maintain while it is silently accepted that men will be free to seek additional sexual partners when they desire. But the Bible does not make distinction between adultery and fornication (Ex.20:14; Heb.13:14). This understanding makes wife as a tool for her husband. In the Bible both of woman and man are created for the purpose of faithfulness to rule and subdue creatures (Gen.2:26-28). Also God pays an attention to the entire parts of the human body but not only to some part of our body. We are stewards of God’s creation including our body.

FGM considered as an issue of acceptance by the adults of clan. This view is centered on the cultural understanding of marriage. Cultural acceptance by itself is considered as very important. But the Bibles teaching about marriage is different from social belief. Marriage is an institution created by God from the very beginning (Gen.2:21-25). Physical harm and abuse may affect the marriage between husband and the wife. Therefore, FGM have to be stopped. Wenham proposed a strategy to abolish FGM. He said that restricting circumcision to men is of a peace with this attitude. We also support his view since FGM is not the only issue of women. It is also the issue of the whole community. Therefore, it is impossible to abolish it without the support of men.

The two arguments to abolish FGM are the argument from the silent and the argument from the creation. Argument from the silence is a strong argument which shows that the Bible is silent about the practice of FGM. But the second argument is that God made everything good including those parts of women that are important for child bearing and a healthy relationship within marriage. This argument is weak, because male circumcision is not instituted on the spot of creation. And God didn’t institute male circumcision to modify what is not good but for to make covenant relationship with human being.

In general, there is no evidence to support FGM. So we will stand against the harmful practice of FGM through the word of God and within the theological teaching.

Finally, we concluded our teaching by saying if we die tomorrow; we will struggle today to abolish this harmful practice of FGM from Christian community as well as non believers.

We wish all the best for you and your life. God bless you!

Please suggest if do you have any comment on our work report and our theological reasons against FGM. We wait the readers comments, it help us to improve our next time teaching.

We are doing well. We are in a village called Olookurnono. If possible sent us some money because money now are very few. What
is using alot of money is the vehicle because it is a season of rain and
also because Veronica was in a day school. I took her to a boarding
school and also we helping a girl who has something growing in her chest and the doctors are saying she will stay like that so I
am also paying her school fees. The work is going on well very soon I will send to you what we have been doing. I went to the bank and they said to me the money did not arrive yet.

Myös Bezuneshilta on kuulumisia:

Hi
dear, how are you? We are very fine with our joyful work. Now we are
on the teaching in Damboya area. This is a new area for
the people of Kambata. We are enjoying our teaching about
theological reasons against FGM. Also we are all times including issues about sexuality
within our teaching. May God bless
you and your life.

keskiviikko 2. heinäkuuta 2014

We have been to Mara. We
went to four different school and we taught them according to classes. There are those who are young and others are 15 years and over. They
promise us to change. Their teachers and chief of the area attended
the teaching. They were also happy and the chief promise us that he will
take a serious action to those people who circumses girls and give
them out to marry. We are planning to go back to Mara for more
teachings. We are also planning to go to Imariani village which is like 200 kilometres away. We have found a car but it is very expensive because it is a season of rain. Also I need a computer because it is expensive for me to go to Saimber to send reports to you. -Elizabeth

Our teaching focused this time on biblical reasons against FGM. Our learners were more than fifty persons both female and male, married
and unmarried and the students of Sunday school in the Zame
Congregation. We started using different peoples stories. As an example we take one women from Bale Kokosa area. Her name is Obore Kedero. She has lived with this harmful traditional practice of FGM and her vagina is already closed and she can’t give birth more than one child because of this dangerous practice. And also she lives continually bleeding and urine and with headache. She is a married woman but has not had success in her marriage. Then I told our listeners my own story concerning FGM and how I suffered in my marriage life. And Tesfaye assured in his word about my life what marriage is like to us.

.
Another place where we have been teaching is in Shishicho Bible school. We gave training for first year students in both morning and evening for six days. The number is 25 including girls, women and young male groups and they are married and unmarried.

We are very happy because we assumed that it is possible to reach all people of Kambata through this Bible school students, and it even includes people from Hadiyya ethnic group. After teaching they discussed in two groups and their decision is they are all interested to teach each congregation about the harmfulness of FGM.

Now we want to show a sample about our teaching of what we
taught for our learners. We have been in different areas with the same topic on
different levels and different days. This time we have been very
successful in our teaching. We came back to our home from Shishicho area
in June 21 on Saturday afternoon. We gave training in Zame two
week before we went to Shishicho Bible School.

This is our teaching sample: The origin of the practice of FGM is unknown. Also the origin of male circumcision is unknown but it is an ancient operation. It was practiced before the Israelites, even their patriarchal ancestor, come on the scene. The tools used to perform male circumcision at the ancient time were flint knife and other metals. It was dates by Egyptian about 4000 B.C. before it was adopted by forefathers of Israelites as the sign of covenant.

It was not only Jewish people who practiced male circumcision in ancient time, but also Western Semites, including the Ammonites, Moabites and the Edomites, practiced it. But it was rejected by the Eastern semantic speaking peoples. Also it is found in Asia, Africa, Australia, but not among the Indo-Germanic people and the Mongols. It is known among the Israelites neighbors like Egypt, and Canaan but not in Assria or Babylon. Initially it became theologically significant, through its role in Judaism as compulsory sign of covenant membership.

God introduced the physical act of male circumcision as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant: "This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you...Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you." (Gen17:10-11). It was a continual cutting off of the foreskin of the male organ, and it was a reminder of the perpetuity of the covenantal relationship. In the Old Testament (OT) the compulsory sign of covenant is male circumcision alone but not including female. In the Bible it was first described in the book of Genesis 17:1-14, were God commanded the practice as the mark and seal of His covenant with the people of Israel. In this text, it was occurred within the context of God’s renewed covenant to Abraham, following the early contractual relationship.

Circumcision in New Testament

It is remarkable that no discussion about circumcision is found in the Gospels other than the brief reference in John’s 7:22-23 that suggests John’s community was troubled about the issue of circumcision. In the NT self-righteous Jews faithfully practiced circumcision as recognition of God’s continuing with Israel. In the NT male circumcision is not remarkable issue to be included in the church of Christ, but the only thing is faith alone.

The Apostolic church acknowledged a circumcision-free Gospel (Acts15). For all its interpretation of other parts of the Jews liturgy, the epistle to the Hebrews makes no attempt to spiritualize the act of circumcision. Gentiles came to the church and accepted without the question of circumcision within the church up on the Gospel’s proclamation (Acts 10:47-48,11:18). But a sect of Jewish believers aroused and argued that the gospel, without the fulfillment of circumcision, would invalidate the law and make salvation impossible (Acts 15:1).

But we are freed from the bondage of the law, which we cannot fulfill it through our power, but through the death of Jesus Christ. This freedom is from all the bondage that hurts us directly and indirectly. Slavery is not the need of the person. For example the slavery of Israelites under the bondage of Egyptian is not the Israelites need. Like this FGM is a kind of cultural slavery which hurts the body of the person. This may contribute to the spiritual part also.